Visiting Paris for the First Time: What I Saw, What Surprised Me, and What You Need to Know

Paris has been on my list for a long time. Not just as a travel destination, but as a feeling I wanted to have. You know how some cities carry a certain weight in your imagination before you ever set foot there? Paris was that city for me.

And then I finally went. Face full of makeup, gorgeous outfit, a whole plan ready to go, and within two hours of landing, I was lost on the wrong train, dragging my suitcase around a city I did not know.

But even with the chaos, Paris delivered.

If you are visiting Paris for the first time, this is everything I wish someone had told me before I went.

Before You Go: What to Book in Advance

Do not arrive in Paris and assume you will figure it out at the door. Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and the crowds are no joke. Booking in advance is not just helpful, it is necessary.

Here is what I pre-booked before leaving Lagos:

The Louvre Museum – book online before you travel. The queue for walk-ins is long and avoidable. I paid $39.63 for my ticket.

Palais Garnier (Opera National de Paris) – this one surprised me in the best way, and I will tell you about it shortly. Book ahead. I paid $31.70.

Galeries Lafayette – the rooftop is free, but if you want to avoid waiting forever for the escalator, go early in the morning before the crowds build up.

Nanny Bag – if you are arriving before your hotel check-in time, book a Nanny Bag location near your accommodation in advance. It is a luggage storage service where you drop your bags at a partner shop and collect them later. I paid $8.51, and it saved my entire first morning.

Want the full booking info, links timings, and how I structured my day? It is all in my Paris Guide – grab it from the shop here.

Is Paris Really That Crowded?

Yes. And that was probbaly one thing that was underwhelming for me and something you should prepare for when visiting, because some people go to Paris expecting romance and quiet cobblestone streets, and what they find is crowds everywhere.

The Louvre? Crowded. Galeries Lafayette? Crowded. Even the escalator inside Galeries Lafayette had a queue. You had to wait to get on the escalator in a shopping mall. That is Paris.

But I found the other cities peaceful and calm, I visited Strasbourg and Colmar on a Sunday, though. So, if you have more days in France, you can try checking out other cities in France.

The Eiffel Tower area during the day and at night had people everywhere. The rooftop of Galeries Lafayette was windy and packed, and you could barely get a picture without someone walking into your frame.

I did not fully enjoy Paris because of the crowds. But I want you to go in with the right expectation so you can plan around it instead of being caught off guard.

Go early. Pre-book. And if you are sensitive to noise and chaos, build in some quiet time in between attractions.

Here are tours you can book if you want to have a stress-free time in Paris:

The Eiffel Tower: Day vs Night

I saw the Eiffel Tower twice, once during the day and once at night. They are two completely different experiences. (Of course, you can also see the Eiffel Tower from different vantage points in the city, like from the rooftop of Galleries Lafayette).

During the day, it is impressive. It is big, it is iconic, and standing in front of it for the first time after everything I had been through to get there felt significant. But during the day, it is just there. People everywhere, lots of noise, and it looks exactly like the pictures you have already seen.

Best Time to See the Eiffel Tower

At night? Completely different story.

I walked to the Eiffel Tower at night, about an hour’s walk from my hotel, and I am so glad I did. The tower lights up and sparkles, and I am not exaggerating when I say it stopped me in my tracks. It is huge and glorious and sparkly in a way that pictures do not fully capture. I could not get enough of it.

I have a thing for lit-up places. Lights make everything more beautiful to me. So maybe that is part of why I loved it so much. But even if you do not have that same love for lights, I think the Eiffel Tower at night would move you.

When I got there, some guys approached me, offering to take pictures. My advice: act like you are not interested, even if you are. If you seem too eager, the price goes up. I played it cool, negotiated, and got four or five great pictures for a reasonable amount. The photographer was charming, tried his luck asking me out, I told him I was married, we laughed, and the pictures were a chef’s kiss.

The walk back to my hotel that night was one of my favorite moments from the whole trip. Paris at night is walkable and beautiful. I put in my earphones, walked slowly, looked around at the buildings and the streets, and just felt alive. It was cold, but I was half walking, half dancing, so I barely felt it (memorable).

The Louvre: Is It Worth It?

Yes and no, and I will explain.

The Louvre is genuinely one of the most remarkable places I have ever walked into. It is not just a museum, it is an entire world. There are sculptures, paintings, artifacts, and history on every wall and in every corridor. The scale of it is almost overwhelming. I felt like I could spend days there and still not see everything.

But the crowds made it harder to enjoy fully. You are constantly navigating around people, and in some areas, you can barely move. The Mona Lisa section, especially, I went to see it because you feel like you have to, and honestly? It was okay. It is a small painting behind thick glass, surrounded by a crowd of people all trying to take the same picture. The painting itself is beautiful, but the experience around it is chaotic.

What I actually loved were the other paintings in that hall and throughout the museum. There is so much to see beyond the Mona Lisa, and most people rush past it, trying to get to the famous one.

Palais Garnier: The One That Surprised Me Most

Palais Garnier was the attraction I was least excited about going to, and it ended up being one of my favorites.

The Opéra National de Paris is stunning. The architecture alone is worth the visit. The grand staircase, the painted ceilings, the chandeliers, the detail on every surface, it feels like you have walked into another century. Even if opera is not your thing, the building itself is a piece of art.

It was also as crowded as the Louvre, but by then I was already used to the crowd. I paid $31.70 for my visit, and it was worth every dollar.

Galeries Lafayette: Rooftop, Escalator, and Cake

A short walk from the Opera house, and you will be at Galeries Lafayette.

Galeries Lafayette is a department store, but calling it just a department store does not do it justice. It is one of those places that feels like an experience in itself.

The interior is beautiful: high ceilings, a stunning dome, and escalators running through multiple floors. The escalator, by the way, had a queue. I had to wait to get on the escalator. That is how busy this place gets. Go early if you want to avoid the wait.

The rooftop is free and gives you a panoramic view of Paris. It is windy up there and crowded, but the view is genuinely beautiful. It is a good spot to pause, look out over the city, and take a breath (which I couldn’t do because it was rainy, cold, and crowded).

I also got a chocolate cake at the café inside. After all the walking and the chaos of Day 1, that cake was exactly what I needed. Small thing, but it made me happy.

Walking Around Paris: What I Saw

Paris is one of the most walkable cities I have been to. A lot of getting around, especially between relatively close attractions, is just walking.

I walked a lot, and I saw a lot. Beautiful buildings and architecture everywhere you turn. The kind of buildings you have seen in movies your whole life, and then suddenly you are standing in front of them in real life.

I also passed a man playing guitar and singing on the street, with people sitting around listening. As I walked past, he said something that included the words “African woman,” I smiled and kept walking, but it was nice. Those street performers play for tips, so if you stop, be prepared to give something. I was in a hurry to get to Palais Garnier, so I kept it moving.

One thing I noticed everywhere in Paris was how openly affectionate people are. Couples holding hands, kissing, and being very comfortable with PDA in a way that is just not as common back home in Nigeria. It is not a bad thing at all, just something that stood out to me as a first-timer. Paris really does live up to that romantic reputation.

A tip for navigating on foot: Google Maps has a feature that lets you point your camera at a street, and it shows you which direction to go. This was incredibly helpful for me as a first-timer. Use it (Not just in Paris, but whenever you travel). It makes walking around a new city so much less stressful.

What to Pack for Paris in April

I have said this before, and I will say it again: pack gloves.

I had researched before going and was told temperatures would be around 19 degrees. When I got there, it was closer to 14 degrees, rainy, and cold in a way that caught me off guard. My hands were freezing the entire time, and I could not find anyone selling gloves anywhere.

I had my trench coat, scarf, and layers, so the rest of me was fine. But my hands suffered.

If you are visiting Paris between October and April, pack:

• Gloves
• A proper coat (not just a light jacket)
• A scarf
• Layers you can add or remove
• Waterproof shoes or at least water-resistant ones
• An umbrella because it was almost always raining.

Getting Around Paris as a First-Timer

The Paris Metro and bus system is actually very good once you understand it. The problem is that as a first-timer, it is confusing, and if you are jet-lagged and dragging luggage, it will humble you fast.

I will advise you to:

Learn the Metro before you land. Download the map, understand the line numbers, and know which station is closest to your accommodation. Do not wait until you are standing in the station to figure it out. Ask the guards around; they are helpful.

Get a transport card. The Navigo card will save you from buying individual tickets every time.

Use Bolt or Uber when you need to. They are more expensive than public transport but much easier when you are tired, lost, or in a hurry. Keep your card working and keep some cash as backup because apps can fail you.

Do not use taxis. The meters run fast, and some drivers take advantage of tourists. I had an experience where the meter climbed for a short 3-4 minute ride, and the driver rounded up at the end, claiming a minimum charge. I was too exhausted to argue. Use Bolt or Uber instead.

Get an eSIM before you travel. Data is everything when you are navigating a new city. I use Airalo, you buy your data plan before you leave, activate it when you land, and you are connected from minute one. No hunting for a local SIM at the airport.

Staying Safe in Paris: What Every First-Timer Should Know

Paris is a beautiful city, but like every major tourist destination, it has its own set of things to watch out for. Here is what I learned and what I want you to know before you go.

Maintain a stern look. This sounds funny, but it works. When you look lost, confused, or overly excited, you become a target for people who want to take advantage of tourists. Walk with purpose even when you are not sure where you are going. Keep your face neutral and focused.

Beware of pickpockets. This is not a drill. Pickpockets are common in crowded tourist areas, especially around the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and on the Metro. Keep your valuables close at all times.

On the bus or train, guard your bag. When you are on public transport, take your bag off your back and hold it in front of you where you can see it at all times. If it has a zip, keep it zipped. Crowded transport is where most theft happens because the confusion makes it easy.

Do not engage with strangers who approach you aggressively. If someone comes up to you with a bracelet, a petition to sign, or anything that requires you to stop walking, keep moving. A polite no and a steady walk is all you need.

Save your accommodation address offline. You already know this from my story. Save your hotel address somewhere you can access without internet. Your phone will die at the worst moment.

Download an offline map before you land. Do not wait until you are already lost and your data is acting up. Download an offline map of Paris, or the whole of France, before you leave home. Google Maps allows you to save maps for offline use. This saved me more than once.

Dress comfortably, but be aware of your surroundings. Paris is stylish, and people notice what you wear, as I found out. But that also means staying alert, especially at night and in quieter streets.

Would I Go Back to Paris?

Yes. Without hesitation.

I am going back. And there are so many more places I can’t wait to see.

Ready to Plan Your Paris Trip?

If you want the full breakdown, what to book before you arrive, how to structure your day, what to prioritize, and what you can skip, I have put it all together in my Paris Guide.

Get the guide

And if you still need help with your Schengen visa before any of this, read my full Schengen visa guide or send me a message to get started with your application.

Read next in the France series:

• My France Trip: Paris, Strasbourg, and Colmar in 3 Days
• Strasbourg and Colmar Travel Guide
• How I Got My Schengen Visa First Try From Lagos
• France Transit Visa for Nigerians